Literary treasure trove uncovered in Moray
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A large cache of letters dating back as far as the year 1790 have come to light in Elgin.
The collection, which contains about one hundred letters in total, was discovered within the roof space of a house on Academy Street.
Some are barely legible, but others provide a fascinating insight into the life of a woman who lived in the town during the Victorian era.
Mrs Brander was short of money – so short she resorted to asking far and wide for help.
Dated August 11, 1851, one reply was sent to Elgin from a Robert Grant, who lived at 10 Grafton Place, Euston Square, London.
It states:
Dear Madam,
I am grieved to hear of your continued mishaps and afflictions, and as you describe your condition there can be little doubt that Dr Brander (possibly her brother) has given you good counsel.
You may further have heard of the sorry termination of my sister's affairs after so many years of litigation by very able and very inadequately renumerated agents at Elgin and Edinburgh.
It required an advance of borrowed funds to clear her affairs.
The amount of my inheritance is eighteen pounds 5/6 ½, which limits my acts of charity more than I anticipated or could have wished.
I enclose however £2 to assist in the objects mentioned in your note of Friday last and hope you may better prosper in Elgin, where it has always appeared to me that there is nobody either poor or rich, but all are moderately comfortable.
Another reply was sent on behalf of the dowager Duchess of Roxburgh, who lived at Broxmouth Park, a stately home near Dunbar which still stands today.
An intermediary – perhaps a secretary – has written:
The Dowager Duchess of Roxburgh has to tell Mrs Brander that she has been making enquiries pertaining the temporary assistance granted by the (?) Institution and she finds that Mrs Brander must send in her application for assistance to the Ladies Committee or to the (?) Dr Laing, 66 Harley Street.
In that application Mrs Brander must state her own case and the circumstances under which she seeks relief.
Mrs Brander must also refer the Committee to two Ladies (Subscribers) from whom a reference of her respectability etc etc may be obtained.
The Dowager Duchess of Roxburgh states this information in the hope of it being of service – but she cannot give her name having no personal knowledge of Mrs Brander and though the Dowager Duchess of Roxburgh is a donor to the Institution her name is not on the list.
The Committee meet next Saturday 29th therefore if Mrs Brander can make a claim and get the name of two Subscribers this is the time to apply.
Another letter written in the same hand was sent nine days later.
It states:
The Dowager Duchess of Roxburgh is sorry to hear of Mrs Brander's distressful circumstances and encloses her an order for £5 which she hopes will be of service with regard to the (?) Institution.
It would be necessary for Mrs Brander to state to the Duchess what she expects or requires from that Institution before the Duchess can take any steps on her behalf.
If Mrs Brander will when she acknowledges the receipt of the money order, state her views. The Duchess will let her know if she can afford them.
Intriguingly there is also a short note from someone who signs themselves 'Roxburgh'.
Written before the others, it is dated June 22, 1850, and bears the address Clarendon Hotel.
It states:
Madam,
I have herewith to enclose a draft on (?) for five pounds and would at the same time express my regret that numerous and pressing claims upon me leave it out of my power to afford you that assistance which from the tenor of your note you may have been led to expect.
Yet another letter is from someone writing on behalf of a Colonel Brander.
It's addressed and dated Elgin, September 1850.
Dear Madam,
Colonel Brander has desired me to remit you four pounds, and accordingly enclose a Post Office order for that amount, of which please acknowledge receipt.
The letter goes on to state that Colonel Brander has sent her a total of £8 this year, with the word 'this' underlined for emphasis.
It also asks for Mrs Brander to send an acknowledgement of that fact, before continuing:
Colonel Brander, while he sympathises with your distress, does not consider himself called upon to give more, in the meantime at least.
He would however be glad that some permanent arrangement was to be made to have you boarded, as stated in your letter to Dr Brander, and provided your other relatives come forward and subscribed for that purpose, I have no doubt that Colonel Brander would be induced to do so also.
Be so good as to write me as to this, mentioning the lowest sum at which you could be boarded.
The full cache of letters are now being passed on to Elgin Museum so their full contents can be investigated further.
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